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Guesty vs Hostaway
2025 Mega Showdown

Guesty drives 16.4% more revenue than Hostaway

In a recent analysis, we found that short-term rental managers who switched from Hostaway to Guesty increased their revenue per listing by an average of 16.4% in the first 12 months. Learn what to look for when choosing a property management system (PMS) for your short-term rental business.

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The Guesty edge

A competitive advantage to upgrading to Guesty

The proof is in the data. We conducted a market study of 724 US property managers with up to 20 listings who onboarded to Guesty between 2022 and 2024. Here’s how Average Daily Rate (ADR) and occupancy improved for users who switched to Guesty from Hostaway. Access the full research →

Average listings increase:
Upgrading to Guesty helps you attract more vacation rental owners

Sample of 724 US-based customers with less than 20 listings, onboarded to Guesty in 2022-2024, excluding high end luxury properties. The sample of users are hosts/PMCs who migrated from Lodgify, Hostaway, Hostfully, iGMS, Tokeet, Airbnb-only, into Guesty Pro.

Connect to hundreds of distribution channels

A comprehensive feature comparison

Guesty vs Hostaway

On the surface, Guesty and Hostaway both offer key features for short-term rental management. Here’s how those features compare when you look more closely.
Channel manager 60 channels plus API integration to hundreds more 22 channels
Unified inbox
Multi-calendar
Automated messages
Task automation
Coupons and promotions
Basic CRM
Automated reviews
Real-time sync
24/7 guest communication services
Advanced analytics
Rate plans
Advanced lead management
Damage protection
Trust accounting
Workflows
Brand management
Group reservations
Guest screening tools
Dynamic pricing Basic capabilities
Direct bookings Third-party website builder
Owners portal No dedicated Owners Portal
Multi-unit management Flexible, complex management including sub-unit editing Only parent/child multi-unit capabilities
Payment processor Native solution and third-party payment processing Only third-party solutions
Reporting tools Native solution tailored for hospitality ChatGPT integration
Marketplace partners 200+ 100 integrations, including duplicates and irrelevant partners

Guesty and Hostaway seem to offer many of the same features, but the functionalities and capabilities of Guesty’s features are more extensive and superior. Hostaway users will quickly notice missing essential core capabilities that Guesty offers, such as rate plans, advanced analytics in support of growth, payment processing, and damage protection.

Guesty at a glance

With an industry-leading R&D team of 250, as well as a team of experts on the ground, Guesty releases new features almost daily, with ~70% of enhancements based directly on customer feedback.

500K Listings managed
200+ Marketplace partners
16 Offices worldwide

I have overseen and handled four PMS migrations…
Guesty is my last stop.

Brandeth Canaley Roami

With Hostaway, I struggled with poor support and frustratingly long delays to resolve issues. The app didn’t meet the needs of my growing business. On the other hand, after 12 years in STR management, I can confidently say Guesty is the best full-solution PMS available.

Arturo Godínez Mimosa Homes

“So with Hostaway it was a matter of trust for us, a lot of going back on their word and false promises.”

Bnbstay Ltd United Kingdom

Reviewed by independent sources

The main difference between Guesty and Hostaway is that

Guesty drives higher revenue per listing, higher occupancy, and ultimately helps you attract more properties to manage

Additional differences are:

Real-time dynamic pricing with Guesty

Guesty unveiled its embedded, AI-powered dynamic pricing tool in April 2023, and has continued to make updates and improvements to ensure the best dynamic pricing tool for short-term rentals.

Hostaway launched its dynamic pricing tool only in July 2024 with a more basic product, and still has a long way to go to catch up.

More channels available through Guesty’s Channel Manager

Guesty increased the number of channels available to users through direct integration to 60 through its acquisition of Rentals United, all with best-in-class connectivity. Hundreds of additional channels are also supported through Guesty’s Open API.

Hostaway offers direct integration to 22 channels, but the biggest flaw in Hostaway’s channel manager is its lack of real-time sync, which may not fully safeguard you against double bookings.

Better direct booking capabilities

Guesty offers a full suite of features for direct reservations, including an AI-powered website builder connected to a booking engine, enabling a seamless booking flow. This includes the ability to offer coupons and promotions, an in-house payment processor, and connections to third-party payment processors.

Hostaway offers the ability to generate coupons and promotions, but relies on third-party integrations for most of its direct booking capabilities, including its website builder and payment processing.

24/7 Customer Support easy to access

Guesty has a customer experience and success team of 240 employees — bigger than Hostaway’s entire company. They provide around-the-clock support, including live chat, in case you have any questions, ideas, or just can’t get your report to download.

Hostaway has fewer customer support agents which means they sometimes take far longer to respond to customers requests, and often respond with unhelpful help center articles.

Unified inbox and guest communication

Guesty offers four ways to optimize guest communication: a unified inbox that consolidates all messages into one platform, message automation that sends guest messages based on specific triggers, AI-powered responses that learn from your inbox history, and 24/7 guest communication services that enable messages to be answered even while you sleep.

Hostaway offers a unified inbox and message automation, as well as a ChatGPT integration.

Guesty is best for property managers who want to access more professional tools

Hostaway gives you basic property management functionality while Guesty gives you a technology partner to help grow your short-term rental business.

PMS essentials

How Guesty and Hostaway differ

Beyond a feature list, there are many other considerations to make when choosing a PMS. These include looking at the product roadmap to understand how forward-thinking a PMS is, as well as the health of the company. Here is how Guesty and Hostaway compare when you look at the overall picture of the two companies.

  • Innovation

    Hostaway claims they have closed the feature gap with Guesty, and at first glance it appears that Hostaway and Guesty have many of the same core features. However, if you dig deeper, you’ll see that Hostaway simply releases the same features as Guesty, only a year or more later.

    This is true for short-term rental essentials like dynamic pricing, multi-unit management, smart locks management, and financial services. By releasing key features a year or more later than Guesty, Hostaway is constantly playing catch-up, leaving its customers behind the curve.

  • Marketplace

    Guesty and Hostaway both have a marketplace of third-party integrations their users can connect to. Guesty’s marketplace of 200+ partners offers connectivity to some of the best tools for short-term rental managers, including tools to improve guest experience, enhance your listings, and simplify check-in and check-out.

    Hostaway’s marketplace of partners is padded to look like it has more options. For example, Hostaway lists its Zapier integrations individually, so workplace efficiency apps like Slack, Monday.com, and Asana — which may be less relevant for the short-term rental industry — are each counted separately.

  • Customer support

    What happens if something goes wrong? Guesty’s customer experience and success team of 240 employees is bigger than Hostaway’s entire company.

    They provide around-the-clock support, including live chat, in case you have any questions, ideas, or just can’t get your report to download, while Hostaway responds with unhelpful help center articles.

  • Pricing

    Hostaway claims that their per-listing monthly rate is more straightforward than Guesty’s pricing. In reality, Guesty offers a per-listing monthly rate as well, but also offers hosts with 1–5 listings the option of a $9/month + commission package.

    This package is especially beneficial for hosts who are just getting started, as it keeps costs low in the off season. On the other hand, Hostaway’s “straightforward” pricing model may conceal additional costs, such as the recently introduced 1.8% direct booking commission.

  • Enterprise capabilities

    Enterprise-grade businesses need enterprise-grade tools, and Hostaway is behind. The Guesty PMS has a 99.999% system uptime, is suitable from 1 listing to 1000s, and offers tools for large businesses that Hostaway simply doesn’t.

    These include robust owner statements that will help you attract more properties to your portfolio, trust accounting, custom analytics, security features, and a two-way open API. For organizations with large teams and hierarchies, Guesty also offers centralized reporting tools, role-based permissions, silos to secure data, and more.

  • Company health

    In an ever-consolidating market, you want to be sure that your PMS will be able to support your goals in two — or ten — years. Following several successful acquisitions, Guesty is the largest PMS on the market, with an industry-leading R&D team of 250 and daily feature releases.

    This compares to Hostaway’s 40+ R&D team and a consolidated 15 monthly “releases and bugs fixed.”

Comprehensive guide

How to choose a property management software for your vacation rental business

  • 1. Define your business needs

    • Assess your requirements

      Is managing your listings on platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Expedia, or Booking.com sufficient, or do you want access to additional channels? Do you need tools for direct reservations such as a booking website builder, embedded payment processor or
      dynamic pricing?

    • Determine scale

      Are you managing a single rental, multiple properties, or an enterprise-level business? Software like Guesty or Hostaway caters to different scales. While Guesty is suitable for property managers or owners with one listing, thousands, or anything in between, Hostaway’s tools are more suitable for smaller short-term rental operations.

  • 2. Core features to look for

    • Channel Manager

      Ensure the software supports synchronization across booking platforms like Google Vacation Rentals, Marriott, as well as mainstream OTAs (Online Travel Agencies), as well as gives you the ability to market to more targeted markets through niche OTAs such as Mister B&B, TravelStaytion, and more.

    • Direct Booking Capabilities

      Tools like a website builder, templates, and SEO optimization for direct booking websites are essential for reducing dependency on OTAs and boosting commission-free revenue. Also look for related features for driving direct reservations, such as a robust CRM and other marketing tools that will help you bring in repeat business.

    • Unified Inbox & Guest Communication

      Achieving consistent great reviews requires being responsive to guest messages. Make sure you choose a PMS with a robust messaging system that enables different forms of communication, including SMS, email, and Whatsapp integration to improve communication.

    • Task Management

      Look for features for managing your day-to-day operations. These include check-in, cleaning, maintenance, and team assignments to streamline operations.

    • Payment Processing

      An embedded payment processor that’s designed for hospitality will provide the smoothest experience for collecting direct payments. Additionally, make sure the PMS you select has integration with third-party payment processors like Stripe for seamless transactions.

    • Dynamic Pricing

      AI-powered tools for optimizing rates based on market trends can help you reach the optimal balance of occupancy and revenue.

  • 3. Usability and customization

    • Ease of use

      Prioritize a user-friendly interface that minimizes onboarding time for you and your team members and gets you up and running as fast as possible. Guesty’s onboarding process is led by an experienced team that can help shorten the learning curve.

    • Customizable Templates and Widgets

      These help create branded experiences, especially for direct booking websites.
      Mobile App Compatibility: Ensure support for Android, iOS, and Windows devices for management on the go.

  • 4. Integration and automation

    • API Access

      An API allows integration with existing systems and additional tools. For larger property management companies, an Open API that allows you to connect custom built tools is especially important.

    • Automate Routine Tasks

      Features like automated guest communication, booking engine management, and payment processing can save you hours each week and drive efficiency for your business.

  • 5. Advanced features

    • Streamlined Operations

      Look for all-in-one solutions like Guesty, or Hostaway that offer robust management tools. Guesty offers everything you need to run a successful short-term rental business from one place, eliminating the need for additional tools.

    • SEO and Marketing

      Tools for improving visibility on Google Vacation Rentals and increasing direct bookings are essential for standing out above the competition. Additionally, a robust CRM is necessary for retargeting past guests.

    • Customer Support

      Ensure the software has 24/7 customer support — ideally available in more than one medium — to address any issues promptly.

  • 6. Consider additional factors

    • Scalability

      Does the software grow with your business needs, offering upgrades like an ultimate plan or enterprise solutions?

    • Pricing

      Compare costs based on features and business size.

    • Onboarding Support

      Smooth onboarding ensures quick adoption of the platform.

Real users, real reviews

What users say about Guesty

The Big Question: Which Rental Property Software Will You Choose?

of short-term rental managers name market saturation as their top concern. In today’s highly competitive market, having the right property management software can mean the difference between making it or going under. Will you choose the PMS that keeps you ahead of the curve, or the one that is constantly trying to catch up?

For the most innovative features, software health, and customer support, get Guesty

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The information provided herein is internal and for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, the competitive landscape is subject to change and may not always reflect the most current data or market conditions. Users are encouraged to verify all data independently before making any decisions based on the content presented herein.